Systems and methods for enhanced waste item organization

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods are provided herein for enhanced waste item organization. In some embodiments, an example method may include receiving, by a sensor of a device, image data associated with a first waste item. The example method may also include determining, based on the image data associated with the first waste item, a product characteristic of the first waste item. The example method may also include determining, based on the product characteristic of the first waste item, that the first waste item is associated with a first waste receptacle of a plurality of waste receptacles. The example method may also include presenting an indication of the first waste receptacle to the user.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for enhanced wasteitem organization. The disclosure may more particularly relate todetermining appropriate types of waste receptacles in which certainwaste items may be deposited.

BACKGROUND

Various types of waste receptacles exist that may be used to organizewaste items based on how the items will be processed after being used bya customer. For example, items placed in a trash can may be sent to alandfill, items placed in a recycling bin may be sent to a recyclingplant for repurposing, and items placed in a composting bin may be usedas compost (for example, for soil). Although the alternatives tolandfill waste have numerous benefits, consumers may sometimes be facedwith the problem that they are unaware of which receptacle a particularwaste item can be placed in. This may lead to the consumer simplyplacing the items in the landfill receptacle. Even if the consumerschoose to place the item in a more environmentally-friendly receptacle,e.g., recycling bin, this actually might be detrimental if the item isnon-recyclable or non-compostable. For example, if a consumer places anon-recyclable item in a recycling bin, then an entire batch ofotherwise recyclable products may potentially be contaminated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. The use of the same reference numerals may indicate similar oridentical items. Various embodiments may utilize elements and/orcomponents other than those illustrated in the drawings, and someelements and/or components may not be present in various embodiments.Elements and/or components in the figures are not necessarily drawn toscale. Throughout this disclosure, depending on the context, singularand plural terminology may be used interchangeably.

FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative use case, in accordance with one or moreexample embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 depicts an illustrative use case, in accordance with one or moreexample embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 depicts an example method, in accordance with one or more exampleembodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 depicts an example system architecture, in accordance with one ormore example embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 depicts an example computing element, in accordance with one ormore example embodiments of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Overview

The disclosure is directed to, among other things, systems and methodsfor enhanced waste item organization. In some embodiments, the systemsand methods described herein may be used to determine one or more typesof waste receptacles appropriate for a waste item presented by a user,and may also be used to provide an indication to the user of the one ormore types of waste receptacles that should be used.

In some embodiments, the systems and methods described herein may beimplemented using a device that may be used to receive information abouta waste item associated with a user. The device may be a stationarydevice, such as an LED screen that is wall-mounted or otherwise affixedto a stationary element, to provide one non-limiting example. Othernon-limiting examples may include an optical scanner, a camera, asingle-board computer (like a Raspberry Pi) or any other type of devicethat may be used to receive information about a waste item. A stationarydevice may be integrated into a waste receptacle or may be locatedexternally to a waste receptacle (for example, mounted above a wastereceptacle). The device may also be a mobile device that may or may notbe associated with a user (for example, it may be a personal device of auser or may be a mobile device that multiple users may interact with.That is, a device that may be normally a mobile device may be used as astationary device by mounting it to a particular location), such as asmartphone, tablet, or the like. The device may include any number oftypes of sensors for receiving information about the waste item from theuser, such as a camera or LIDAR sensor, to name a few examples, but mayinclude any other type of sensor that may be capable of capturinginformation about a waste item. The sensors may be built-in to thedevice itself or may be external to the device, but in communicationwith the device, such that data captured by a sensor may be transmittedto and/or from the device.

In some embodiments, the device may receive information about a wasteitem in any number of ways. For example, using a camera of the device,the device may capture one or more images, a video, or a real-time videofeed of a scene that may include the waste item. If the device is astationary device, such as a wall-mounted device, for example, thedevice may provide an instruction to a user to hold the waste itemwithin a field of view of the camera of the device so that the devicemay capture the one or more images, video, and/or real-time video feedof the waste item (for example, as depicted in the use case 200 of FIG.2). If the device is a mobile device, the device may presentinstructions to the user to position the camera of the mobile deviceover the location of the waste item, such that the camera of the mobiledevice may then be able to capture the one or more images, video, and/orreal-time video feed of the waste item (for example, as depicted in theuse case 100 of FIG. 1). In some instances, the user may be able to viewthe real-time video feed of the field of view of the camera of thedevice. This may allow the user to determine where the waste item iswithin the field of view of the camera of the device, and may assist theuser in more accurately repositioning the waste item and/or the device(if the device is a mobile device and the user is manipulating theposition of the mobile device rather than the waste item) such that thedevice may capture the one or more images, video, and/or real-time videofeed of the waste item. The device may also provide more specificinstructions to the user. For example, the instructions may include anindication of a particular direction to move or point the device and/orthe waste item. As another example, the instructions may indicate thatthe item should be manipulated so that the device may capture differentangles of the item (for example, if the item includes a bar code for thedevice to scan as described below). The device may also provide feedbackto the user in the form of haptic feedback, audio feedback, and/orvisual feedback, or any other type of feedback. For example, the devicemay provide any one or a combination of these types of feedback when thedevice determines that the waste item is being presented in a particularlocation (such as the box 105 shown in FIG. 1) in the field of view ofthe camera of the device that may allow the camera of the device toappropriately capture the one or more images, video, and/or real-timevideo feed of the waste item. It should be noted that the abovedescriptions of the waste item being captured by a camera of the deviceare merely exemplary, and the device may capture information about thewaste item using any other type of sensor or combination of types ofsensors as well.

In some embodiments, an identifier (such as a computer-readable code,textual information, a logo, or the like) may be included with anelement other than the waste item itself. For example, a cafeteria traymay include an identifier including information about some or all of thefood items that were originally included on the cafeteria tray (forexample, if a cafeteria serves a variety of pre-prepared trays of food).For example, the tray may include an icon indicating that the trayincluded a soda can, fries, and a hamburger. The sensor of the devicemay locate the icon and determine that the tray includes a soda can andpaper wrappers for the fries and the hamburger. The device may thenindicate (as may be described below) which waste receptacles areappropriate for some or all of the items included in the tray. Forexample, an indication may be provided that the soda can may be recycledand the paper products may be deposited in the trash bin.

In some embodiments, if the device is a mobile device, the mobile devicemay include an application that a user may use to initiate a waste itemdetermination by the device. A stationary device may also similarlyinclude an application that a user may select (for example, the user maywalk up to the stationary device and select an application through atouch screen of the stationary device similar to the manner in which theuser may select an application on their mobile device). However, thestationary device may also alternatively be constantly monitoring anenvironment in which the device is located for waste items beingpresented by users. For example, in some cases, the device mayconstantly display an instruction for a user (regardless if a user isactually present or not) to present a waste item until the devicedetermines that a waste item is present in its field of view. In somecases, the device may not constantly display the instructions, but thecamera and/or any other sensors of the device may also always be activeso that the device may always be monitoring the environment for wasteitems. In some cases, instead of monitoring the environment for wasteitems, the device may monitor the environment for one or more users. Inthese cases, once the device identifies a user in the environment, suchas by the detection of motion or movement using one or more motionsensors, it may then proceed to present instructions to the user so thata waste item associated with the user can be captured. In some cases,the device may only provide instructions when it is determined that theuser is within a threshold distance of the device to prevent the devicefrom constantly being activated by users in a general proximity of thedevice that may not have waste items for presentation to the device. Insome cases, the device may also not provide instructions to a userunless the device determines that the user is holding a waste item. Insome cases, the device may not provide instructions to a user unless theuser provides an indication to the device that they wish to interactwith the device. For example, the user may walk up to the device andmake a particular gesture that is recognized by the device, or the usermay physically touch the device (for example, if the device includes atouch screen). The device may make these determinations based on anynumber of types of sensors, such as a motion sensor, camera, LIDARsensor, etc. In even further cases, the systems and methods describedherein may include a combination of a stationary device and/or a mobiledevice application of a user. For example, the user may use their mobiledevice application to provide an indication to a stationary device thatthe user desires for the stationary device to capture the one or moreimages, video, and/or real-time video feed of a waste item the user isholding.

In some embodiments, the device may be able to identify that a wasteitem is included within a field of view of one or more of its sensorsusing any number of methods. As a first example, the waste item mayinclude a physical code printed on it, such as a bar code, quickresponse (QR) code, or any other type of computer-readable code ormarker. Additionally, the waste item may include an identifier otherthan a computer-readable code, such as an a waste receptacle logo (forexample, recycling logo), a food item type logo, waste item logo,textual information, or the like. For example, the waste item may haveits name printed in text on a portion of the waste item. The device maycapture information through its sensors until it determines that one ofthese types of computer readable codes (or other types of identifiers)is identified in any one of one or more images, video, and/or areal-time video feed being captured by the device. In such instances,the device may be able to decipher the code to determine the type ofwaste item. As a second example, the device may use computer visionmethods to identify that a waste item is presented within a field ofview of a sensor. For example, based on one or more images, video,and/or a real-time video feed of a field of view of a sensor of thedevice, a computer vision algorithm may be able to perform objectclassification of objects identified within the one or more images,video, and/or a real-time video feed. Through this objectclassification, the computer vision algorithm may be able to identifythat an object is a waste item. This object classification may becapable of being performed even if the user is not actively presentingthe waste item to the sensor of the device (for example, the device maybe monitoring the environment in real-time). In some cases, the devicemay simply request that the user present the waste item within apredetermined space within the field of view of the sensor of the devicethat is capturing the one or more images, video, and/or a real-timevideo feed (for example, as depicted in scene 102 of FIG. 1).

In some embodiments, the device may also allow the user to manuallyinput the type of waste item, instead of using the above methods toidentify the waste item. For example, the user may be able to provide aname of the waste item as an input to the device using a keyboard of thedevice or by audibly stating the name of the waste item into amicrophone of the device. As another example, the user may be able toselect a specific waste item from a listing of waste items that may bepresented to the use through a display of the device. The listing may bein the form of a list of the names of certain waste items, a gallery ofimages of waste items, or any other form of listing. In some instances,the listing that is provided to the user may depend on a location of theuser. That is, particular locations may be associated with a fixedselection of items (for example, a cafeteria may serve a predeterminedlist of food items and/or may use a predetermined set of storagecontainers, utensils, or other types of waste items). If the device is astationary device, it may be stationary within the same location, so thelisting of waste items may also remain the same over time. In somecases, however, the listing of devices may change even if the deviceremains in the same location. For example, a certain location may nothave a fixed assortment of available waste items, or the location mayperiodically change its assortment of available waste items. In thesecases, the listing of waste items may be automatically or manuallyupdated at the device as the items that are made available at thelocation of the device are changed. If the device is a mobile device,the relevant listing of items may depend on the current location of themobile device. For example, if the user associated with the mobiledevice is in a school cafeteria at a first time, and then at an airportat a second time, the listing of items available at the two locationsmay be different. Thus, in order to determine which listing of wasteitems may need to be presented to the user, the mobile device maydetermine its geolocation (for example, through any number of methods,such as global positioning system (GPS) signals to and/or from themobile device). Once the mobile device has determined its location, itmay determine the listing of waste items to present to the user. Forexample, the mobile device may send a request to an external source(such as an external server hosting a database) for the external sourceto provide the listing of waste items based on the location. In somecases, however, the mobile device may have the lists of waste items foreach location stored locally and may not need to rely on an externaldata source.

In some instances, the listing provided to the user (for example, boththrough stationary and mobile devices) made be location-independent andmay include a listing of any number of waste items, even waste itemsthat may not necessarily be currently available at that particularlocation. For stationary devices this may be beneficial because a usermay transport a waste item from one location to another (for example,the user may place a candy wrapper in their pocket, walk to a newlocation, and then decide to throw the candy wrapper away at the secondlocation), so even if a location is associated with a fixed assortmentof waste items, items not included in that fixed assortment may stillpotentially be presented to the device.

In some embodiments, once the one or more images, video, and/orreal-time video feed of the waste item is captured, it may be determinedwhat type of waste item is being presented by the user (if the usermanually selects the specific waste item from a list, then thesedeterminations may not need to be made). This determination may be madeby comparing the one or more images, video, and/or real-time video feedof the waste item to one or more previously-stored images, videos,and/or real-time video feeds of waste items (for example, a compilationof images stored in a database). In some instances, artificialintelligence (for example, machine learning, deep learning, fuzzy logic,etc.) may be used to determine the type of waste item based on thiscomparison. For example, the artificial intelligence algorithm may betrained with one or more previously-captured images, videos, and/orreal-time video feeds of waste items in order to train the artificialintelligence algorithm. Additionally, every time a new waste item ispresented by a user, the one or more images, video, and/or real-timevideo feed of the waste item, along with the determined of the type ofwaste item that is made, may be stored along with the previously-storedimages, videos, and/or real-time video feeds. Thus, every time a userpresents a waste item to the device, the artificial intelligencealgorithm may improve. Additionally, the device may confirm with theuser that the determined type of waste item is the correct type of wasteitem. For example, the device may present to the user an indication ofthe determined type of waste item, and the user may indicate either thatthe determined type of waste item matches the actual waste item or thatthe determined type of waste item does not match the actual waste item.If the user indicates that the determined type of waste item is not theactual waste item, the type of waste item may be removed from a realm ofoptions and the process may iterate until a correct type of waste itemis determined.

In some embodiments, the determination of the one or more wastereceptacles that the waste item may be deposited in may be performed bythe device itself. In some embodiments, the device may simply serve as ameans for capturing information about the waste item, and thedetermination may be made by an external system, such as a cloudplatform. In some embodiments, the device and external system may sharein the processing required to determine the appropriate wastereceptacle. In even further embodiments, the device may be incorporatedinto the waste receptacles themselves. In such embodiments, eachindividual waste receptacle may have a device, one of the wastereceptacles may have the device, or all waste receptacles maycollectively share a device.

In some embodiments, the determination as to the one or more wastereceptacles the waste item may be deposited into may be based on one ormore rules. The one or more rules may be located-dependent. The rulesmay be used to determine certain protocols for depositing waste items inparticular waste receptacles associated with the location. In someinstances, the location may indicate that the waste receptacles arelocated within a given country, state, region, municipality, etc., whichmay have their own established protocols that define what items areallowed to be placed in certain waste receptacles. For example,municipality A may have a rule that only plastics may be recycled, butmunicipality B may allow plastics and glass bottles. In some instances,the geolocation may be used for even more narrow applications, such asdetermining that the waste receptacles are located in a particularcommercial establishment or residential home. For example, a particularplace of business might have its own separate protocols for depositingitems in waste receptacles. In some cases, the rules may also includerules that may have been previously established by the user. Forexample, the user may manually indicate the types of waste receptaclesthat are available to them in certain locations (for example, at theirplace of residence), and this information may be used in determiningwhich one or more waste receptacles the waste item presented by the usermay be deposited in. For example, a user's place of work may include arecycling bin, a compost bin, and a general trash bin, but the user'shome may only include a recycling bin and a trash bin. In cases wherethe compost bin may be presented as the type of waste receptacle wherean example waste item may be deposited at the user's place of work, adifferent type of waste receptacle (for example, either the recyclingbin or the trash bin) may be presented as the type of waste receptaclewhere an example waste item may be deposited at the user's home.

In some embodiments, the rules may either be stored locally at thedevice or may be stored externally to the device and requested by thedevice before making a waste receptacle recommendation to the user. Insome embodiments, if the device is stationary, then the rules associatedwith the device may remain consistent because the location of the devicemay remain consistent. However, if the device is a mobile device, therules for determining which one or more waste receptacles may beappropriate for a given waste item may change depending on the locationof the user and the mobile device. Given this, determination of whichwaste receptacle is appropriate for the waste item may be made based onthe geolocation of the mobile device. The geolocation may refer to thegeographical location of the waste receptacles and may be determinedthrough such means as Global Position System (GPS) coordinates, or anyother means for determining location of an object. That is, similar tothe manner in which it is determined which list of waste items isassociated with a location, the particular rules associated with alocation may be requested from an external source (such as an externalserver hosting a database), or may be stored locally at a device.

In some embodiments, the one or more types of waste receptacles in whichthe waste item may be deposited may also be based on a current state ofthe waste item. That is, the determination may not only be based on thetype of waste item, but also may be based on its state. The state of thewaste item may include factors such as how clean or dirty the waste itemis. For example, if the waste item is a pizza box, it may include scrapsof food and food stains, or it may be completely clean. In the firstscenario, the appropriate waste receptacle may be a general trash binbecause the dirty box may not be able to be processed by a recyclingplant. However, in the second case, the appropriate waste receptacle maybe the recycling bin. The state of the waste item may also include alevel of deformation or damage to the waste item. For example, a brokenglass bottle may only be appropriate for the general trash bin, but afull intact glass bottle may be recycled. These are just a few examplesof a state of a waste item, and may include any other number of factorsthat may be determinative as to whether the waste item can be recycled,composted, etc. The status of the waste item, in some instances, may bedetermined based on some of the same or similar methods used todetermine the type of waste item (for example, computer vision, manualindication by the user, etc.). In some instances, the location-basedrules may also be relevant to the status of the item. For example,Municipality A may have a rule that a slightly torn box can be recycled,but Municipality B may have a rule that any damage to a box means it canno longer be recycled.

In some embodiments, once the type of waste item is determined, anindication may be presented to the user of one or more types of wastereceptacles in which the waste item presented by the user may bedeposited. A type of waste receptacle may refer to a type of waste itemthat may be deposited in that waste receptacle. For example, a type mayinclude recycling, compost, trash, or the like. In some instances, theindication may be provided through a display of the device. In someinstances, for example, if the device is a stationary device, the one ormore waste receptacles may actually be located proximate to the device.In such instances, an indication to the user may be provided through oneor more of the waste receptacles themselves. For example, an LED lighton the one or more waste receptacles may turn on to indicate that thewaste item may be deposited in any of those waste receptacles (this ismerely one example of a potential indication that a waste receptacle mayprovide, and should not be taken to be limiting. For example, the wastereceptacles may themselves include one or more displays that may presentinformation indicating to the user that they should either be used ornot be used to deposit the waste item.). In some cases, the wastereceptacles themselves may provide the indication even if the device ifa mobile device. For example, the mobile device may be able to determinethat one or more waste receptacles are proximate to the mobile device,and the mobile device may provide an indication to the one or more wastereceptacles to then provide an indication to the user which of the wastereceptacles may be used. In some cases, both a stationary device and amobile device may be used, and the mobile device may provide anindication to the stationary device to provide an indication to the userwhich waste receptacle(s) may be used. For example, this may be the casewhen the mobile device is used to capture the one or more images, video,and/or real-time video feed of the waste item, but the waste receptaclesare also proximate to a display screen that may be in communication withthe mobile device. The mobile device may send an indication to thedisplay screen proximate to the waste receptacles to provide anindication as to which waste receptacle may be used.

In some embodiments, the indication of the one or more waste receptaclesin which the waste item may be deposited may be provided in any numberof forms. As a first example, the indication may be in the form of atextual instruction including the name of the type of one or more wastereceptacles. As a second example, the indication may be in the form ofan image of the types of one or more waste receptacles. As a thirdexample, the indication may be in the form of a logo that is typicallyassociated with the type of waste receptacle (for example, the Mobiusloop recycling logo). Additionally, in some scenarios, the one or morewaste receptacles may not be located proximate to the device providingthe indication to the user. In these scenarios, the device may alsoindicate to the user one or more locations where they may find theappropriate one or more waste receptacles. For example, the device mayprovide a name of a location to the user, may provide a map (forexample, a layout of a building, a map of a city, or any other type ofmap) with an indication on the map of where the user can find the wastereceptacle, or may provide such an indication in any number of otherways. Furthermore, while various types of indications are describedabove, any number of these indications may be presented in combinationwith one another to the user. For example, the word “recycling bin” maybe presented along with a picture of a recycling bin.

It should be noted that although reference may be made herein tofood-related waste items, the systems and methods described herein maybe applicable in any other contexts as well. For example, a user mayscan a used toy product using the sensor of the device. Although suchproducts may not necessarily be deposited in the same waste receptacleswhere food items may be deposited, the systems and methods describedherein may be able to identify a location where the product may bedeposited. For example, it may be determined that a local mall has a toydrive and that the used toy may be taken to the location of the mall anddeposited for use in the toy drive. The same may apply for products suchas used sporting goods. The system may be able to identify a usedsporting goods store in the area that the user may be able to take theused sporting goods to. The same may also apply for any other type ofitem. That is, the systems and methods may be used more generally foridentifying types of items and providing an indication to a user as towhere they can take the item if they wish to dispose of it, sell it,donate it, etc. A location or location(s) where the user may take theitem may be provided to the user as well.

In some embodiments, once a determination of which one or more wastereceptacles are appropriate for depositing a waste item is made, one ormore actions may then be triggered. One example of an action may includea physical unlocking of the one or more waste receptacles in which theitem may be deposited. That is, the waste receptacles may be locked orotherwise inaccessible before a determination is made as to which wastereceptacle is appropriate for the waste item. This may ensure that wasteitems are deposited in the correct receptacles to prevent contaminationof a receptacle by an item that does not belong. For example, the devicemay determine that a user has presented a recyclable item, so therecycling receptacle may be opened and/or unlocked, while the otherwaste receptacle types may remain locked and inaccessible to the user.In some embodiments, some or all of the waste receptacles may be in anunlocked state before the determination is made by the device (that is,unlocked by default), and, once the determination is made, all but thewaste receptacles that the waste item may be deposited in may then belocked. In some embodiments, however, no action may be taken based onthe determination of the appropriate waste receptacle(s). That is, onlyan indication may be provided as to which receptacles may be used, butthe user may ultimately choose to deposit the waste item in a differentwaste receptacle.

In some embodiments, incentives may be provided to users for depositingwaste items in the correct waste receptacle. The incentives may be inthe form of points, cash, or other elements that may be used to trackthe number of times a user has correctly deposited an item in the wastereceptacle indicated by the device. The incentives may be redeemable forrewards (e.g., if the waste receptacles are associated with a cafeteriaat a work environment, the rewards may include free meals at thecafeteria).

In some embodiments, the manner in which it may be determined that theuser has correctly deposited the waste item may be performed in a numberof ways. As a first example, the sensors of the device and/or anysensors of the waste receptacles may be used to visually identify thatthe user has deposited the waste item in the correct waste receptacle.For example, if the device is a stationary device that is located abovethe waste receptacles, the camera of the device may be able to captureone or more images, a video, and/or a real-time video feed of the userphysically placing the waste item in the correct waste receptacle. Asanother example, some or all of the individual waste receptacles mayhave their own sensors, such as weight sensors, proximity sensors,visual sensors, etc., that may be able to determine that a waste itemhas been added to the correct waste receptacle.

In some embodiments, advertisements may be provided to the users throughthe scanning device (e.g., wall-mounted device and/or user mobiledevice). The advertisements may be based off of a waste item beingpresented by a user. For example, if the user is scanning a particularbrand of soda bottle to deposit in a waste receptacle, then the scanningdevice may provide an advertisement for that same brand of soda bottle,a different product made by the same brand, or a similar product made bya different brand. The advertisements may also be based on a user wastedepositing history (e.g., based on waste items the user has deposited inwaste receptacles in the past).

In some embodiments, a user may have more than one waste item they wishto deposit in one or more waste receptacles. The items may be of thesame of different product types and may be appropriate for placement ina single type of waste receptacle or multiple different types ofreceptacles. In such cases, the device may perform individualdeterminations for each of the items, or may alternatively perform asimultaneous determination for all of the waste items and use computervision to separate out the individual items. In some embodiments, theuser may also manually input each individual waste item type asdescribed herein.

Illustrative Use Cases

Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative use case100, in accordance with one or more example embodiments of thedisclosure. The use case 100 may exemplify the use of a mobile device104 to perform the waste receptacle determinations described herein.More specifically, the use case 100 may depict how the process ofdetermining an appropriate waste receptacle using the systems andmethods described herein may be perceived by a user 102. The use case100 may begin with scene 110. Scene 110 may depict a mobile device 104associated with a user 102, where the mobile device 104 may include adisplay 105. The mobile device 104 and the user 102 may be located in anenvironment 109 that may also include a table 103 and a waste item 108(depicted as a bag of chips). The scene 110 may involve the userinitiating an application of the mobile device 104 that the user 102 mayuse to identify an appropriate waste receptacle in which to deposit thewaste item 108. Upon initiation of the application, the application mayprovide one or more instructions 107 to the user 102. The instructions107 may indicate, for example, that the user 102 should scan the wasteitem 108. Scanning the waste item 108 may be performed using a sensor(not shown in the figure) of the mobile device 104, such as a camera orany other type of sensor and/or combination of types of sensors. In thescene 110, the application may also include a scanning region 106. Theinstructions 107 may indicate to the user 102 that they should positionthe mobile device 104 such that the camera (or other sensors) of themobile device 104 captures an image, video, or real-time video feed ofthe waste item 108 within the scanning region 106, as shown in thefigure. For example, the application may present a real-time video feedbeing captured by the camera, and the user may move the mobile device104 until the waste item 108 is presented within the scanning region106. Once the waste item 108 is within the scanning region 106, one ormore images, a video, or a real-time video feed of the waste item 108may be captured for subsequent processing. The one or more images,video, or real-time video feed of the waste item 108 may be capturedautomatically by the mobile device 104 based on a determination that thewaste item 108 is within the scanning region 106. The one or moreimages, video, or real-time video feed of the waste item 108 may also becaptured based on a manual input by the user 102. For example, the usermay press a button on the mobile device to indicate that the one or moreimages, video, or real-time video feed of the waste item 108 should becaptured by the mobile device 104. It should also be noted that althoughthe scene 110 shows the application as including the scanning region106, the application may similarly not include any scanning region 106,and the waste item 108 may only need to be within any portion of a fieldof view of the camera of the mobile device 108.

Continuing with FIG. 1, the use case 100 may proceed to scene 120. Scene120 may depict a user interface of the application after a determinationas to the appropriate waste receptacle(s) for the waste item 108 hasbeen made. In some embodiments, the application at this time may presentan indication of one or more types of waste receptacles in which thewaste item 108 may be deposited. For example, the indication may includean image 122 of the one or more types of waste receptacles. In thiscase, the appropriate waste receptacle may be determined to be arecycling bin. The indication may also include textual information 124about the appropriate waste receptacle. For example, the textualinformation 124 in this case may include the name “recycling bin.” Insome cases, the textual information 124 may include information otherthan the name of the type of waste receptacle. As a first example, thetextual information 124 may also include a location 126 of the wastereceptacle as may be shown in a map 128 on the user interface. As asecond example, the textual information 124 may also include a number ofreward points associated with the waste item 108. As a third example,the textual information 124 may also include an instruction to the user102. For example, the instruction may indicate that the user 102 mayneed to clean the waste item 108 before it may be deposited in aparticular waste receptacle.

Continuing with FIG. 1, the use case 100 may proceed to scene 130. Scene130 may depict the user 102 depositing the waste item 108 into theappropriate waste receptacle 132 (in this case a recycling bin). Scene130 may also depict the application of the mobile device 104 presentinga reward 134 for the user 102 for depositing the waste item 108 in theappropriate waste receptacle 132. The application may also be depictedas presenting a total accumulated points 136 the user 132 has earned fordepositing waste items into appropriate waste receptacles over time. Insome embodiments, the manner in which it may be determined that the user102 has correctly deposited the waste item 108 into the waste receptacle132 may be performed in a number of ways. As a first example, anysensors of the mobile device 104 and/or any sensors of the wastereceptacle 132 may be used to visually identify that the user 102 hasdeposited the waste item 108 in the correct waste receptacle 132. Forexample, the camera of the mobile device 104 may be able to capture oneor more images, a video, and/or a real-time video feed of the userphysically placing the waste item in the correct waste receptacle. Asanother example, some or all of the individual waste receptacles mayhave their own sensors, such as weight sensors, proximity sensors,visual sensors, etc., that may be able to determine that a waste item108 has been added to the correct waste receptacle 132.

FIG. 2 depicts an illustrative use case 200, in accordance with one ormore example embodiments of the disclosure. The use case 200 mayexemplify the use of a stationary device 204 to perform the wastereceptacle determinations described herein. The use case 200 may beginwith scene 210. Scene 210 may depict a stationary device 204 that may bemounted to a wall above one or more waste receptacles (for example, atrash bin 213, a compost bin 212, and a recycling bin 211), where thestationary device 204 may include a display 205 and one or more sensors(which may be depicted in the figure as a camera 207). The camera 207may also have an associated field of view 214. A user 202 may be locatednearby the stationary device 204 and may be holding a waste item 208(which may be depicted as a bag of chips). The scene 210 may involve theuser 202 approaching the stationary device 204 so that the stationarydevice 204 may provide an indication to the user 202 of which of thewaste receptacles are appropriate for the waste item 208.

Continuing with FIG. 2, The scene 210 may begin with the stationarydevice 204 providing an instruction 206 to the user. The instruction 206may provide an indication to the user 202 to place the waste item 208within a field of view 214 of the camera 207 of the stationary device204. As described above, the user 202 may walk up to the stationarydevice 204 and select an application through a touch screen of thestationary device 204 similar to the manner in which the user may selectan application on their mobile device. However, the stationary device204 may also alternatively be constantly monitoring an environment inwhich the stationary device 204 is located for waste items beingpresented by users. For example, in some cases, the stationary device204 may constantly display an instruction for a user (regardless if auser is actually present or not) to present a waste item until thestationary device 204 determines that a waste item 208 is present in itsfield of view 214. In some cases, the stationary device 204 may notconstantly display the instructions, but the camera 207 and/or any othersensors of the stationary device 204 may also always be active so thatthe stationary device 204 may always be monitoring the environment forwaste items. In some cases, instead of monitoring the environment forwaste items, the stationary device 204 may monitor the environment forone or more users. In these cases, once the stationary device 204identifies a user 202 in the environment, it may then proceed to presentinstructions to the user 202 so that a waste item 208 associated withthe user 202 can be captured. In some cases, the stationary device 204may only provide instructions when it is determined that the user 202 iswithin a threshold distance of the device to prevent the stationarydevice 204 from constantly being activated by users in a generalproximity of the stationary device 204 that may not have waste items forpresentation to the stationary device 204. In some cases, the stationarydevice 204 may also not provide instructions to a user 202 unless thedevice determines that the user 202 is holding a waste item 208. In somecases, the stationary device 204 may not provide instructions to a user202 unless the user 202 provides an indication to the stationary device204 that they wish to interact with the stationary device 204. Forexample, the user 202 may walk up to the stationary device 204 and makea particular gesture that is recognized by the stationary device 204, orthe user may physically touch the stationary device 204 (for example, ifthe stationary device 204 includes a touch screen). The stationarydevice 204 may make these determinations based on any number of types ofsensors, such as a motion sensor, camera, LIDAR sensor, etc.

Continuing with FIG. 2, the use case 200 may proceed with scene 220.Scene 220 may depict a display of the stationary device 204 after adetermination as to the appropriate waste receptacle(s) for the wasteitem 208 has been made. In some embodiments, the display at this timemay present an indication of one or more types of waste receptacles inwhich the waste item 208 may be deposited. For example, the indicationmay include an image 224 of the one or more types of waste receptacles.In this case, the appropriate waste receptacle may be determined to be atrash bin. The indication may also include textual information 222 aboutthe appropriate waste receptacle. For example, the textual information222 in this case may include the text “Place item in trash.” In somecases, the textual information 222 may include information other thanthe name of the type of waste receptacle. As a first example, thetextual information 222 may also include a location of the wastereceptacle as may be shown in a map on the display (not shown in thefigure). In the scene 220, the waste receptacles are located rightunderneath the stationary device 204, so the map may not be necessaryand/or presented in this case, but may be presented if the wastereceptacles were not located nearby the stationary device 204. As asecond example, the textual information 222 may also include a number ofreward points associated with the waste item 208. As a third example,the textual information 222 may also include further instructions to theuser 222. For example, the instructions may indicate that the user 202may need to clean the waste item 208 before it may be deposited in aparticular waste receptacle.

In some embodiments, scene 220 may also depict an example of an actionthat may be triggered based on a determination of an appropriate wastereceptacle type for the waste item 208 being made. For example, asdepicted in the figure, the action may include unlocking a door of theappropriate waste receptacle (in this case, the trash bin 213). That is,the waste receptacles may normally be locked and inaccessible to theuser 202, and may only be unlocked and accessible to the user 202 onceit is determined that the particular waste receptacle is appropriate forthe type of waste item 208. This may ensure that waste items aredeposited in the correct receptacles to prevent contamination of areceptacle by an item that does not belong. However, as described above,some or all of the waste receptacles may be in an unlocked state beforethe determination is made by the stationary device 201 (that is,unlocked by default), and, once the determination is made, all but thewaste receptacles that the waste item may be deposited in (for example,the trash bin 213) may then be locked. In some embodiments, however, noaction may be taken based on the determination of the appropriate wastereceptacle(s). That is, only an indication may be provided as to whichreceptacles may be used, but the user 202 may ultimately choose todeposit the waste item in a different waste receptacle.

Illustrative Methods

FIG. 3 is an example method 300 in accordance with one or more exampleembodiments of the disclosure. At block 302 of the method 300 in FIG. 3,the method may include receiving, by a sensor of a device, image dataassociated with a first waste item.

Block 304 of the method 300 may include determining, based on the imagedata associated with the first waste item, a product characteristic ofthe first waste item.

Block 306 of the method 300 may include determining, based on theproduct characteristic of the first waste item, that the first wasteitem is associated with a first waste receptacle of a plurality of wastereceptacles. In some embodiments, the determination of the one or morewaste receptacles that the waste item may be deposited in may beperformed by the device itself. In some embodiments, the device maysimply serve as a means for capturing information about the waste item,and the determination may be made by an external system, such as a cloudplatform. In some embodiments, the device and external system may sharein the processing required to determine the appropriate wastereceptacle. In even further embodiments, the device may be incorporatedinto the waste receptacles themselves. In such embodiments, eachindividual waste receptacle may have a device, one of the wastereceptacles may have the device, or all waste receptacles maycollectively share a device.

In some embodiments, the determination as to the one or more wastereceptacles the waste item may be deposited into may be based on one ormore rules. The one or more rules may be located-dependent. The rulesmay be used to determine certain protocols for depositing waste items inparticular waste receptacles associated with the location. In someinstances, the location may indicate that the waste receptacles arelocated within a given country, state, region, municipality, etc., whichmay have their own established protocols that define what items areallowed to be placed in certain waste receptacles. For example,municipality A may have a rule that only plastics may be recycled, butmunicipality B may allow plastics and glass bottles. In some instances,the geolocation may be used for even more narrow applications, such asdetermining that the waste receptacles are located in a particularcommercial establishment or residential home. For example, a particularplace of business might have its own separate protocols for depositingitems in waste receptacles. In some cases, the rules may also includerules that may have been previously established by the user. Forexample, the user may manually indicate the types of waste receptaclesthat are available to them in certain locations (for example, at theirplace of residence), and this information may be used in determiningwhich one or more waste receptacles the waste item presented by the usermay be deposited in. For example, a user's place of work may include arecycling bin, a compost bin, and a general trash bin, but the user'shome may only include a recycling bin and a trash bin. In cases wherethe compost bin may be presented as the type of waste receptacle wherean example waste item may be deposited at the user's place of work, adifferent type of waste receptacle (for example, either the recyclingbin or the trash bin) may be presented as the type of waste receptaclewhere an example waste item may be deposited at the user's home.

In some embodiments, the rules may either be stored locally at thedevice or may be stored externally to the device and requested by thedevice before making a waste receptacle recommendation to the user. Insome embodiments, if the device is stationary, then the rules associatedwith the device may remain consistent because the location of the devicemay remain consistent. However, if the device is a mobile device, therules for determining which one or more waste receptacles may beappropriate for a given waste item may change depending on the locationof the user and the mobile device. Given this, determination of whichwaste receptacle is appropriate for the waste item may be made based onthe geolocation of the mobile device. The geolocation may refer to thegeographical location of the waste receptacles and may be determinedthrough such means as Global Position System (GPS) coordinates, or anyother means for determining location of an object. That is, similar tothe manner in which it is determined which list of waste items isassociated with a location, the particular rules associated with alocation may be requested from an external source (such as an externalserver hosting a database), or may be stored locally at a device.

In some embodiments, the one or more types of waste receptacles in whichthe waste item may be deposited may also be based on a current state ofthe waste item. That is, the determination may not only be based on thetype of waste item, but also may be based on its state. The state of thewaste item may include factors such as how clean or dirty the waste itemis. For example, if the waste item is a pizza box, it may include scrapsof food and food stains, or it may be completely clean. In the firstscenario, the appropriate waste receptacle may be a general trash binbecause the dirty box may not be able to be processed by a recyclingplant. However, in the second case, the appropriate waste receptacle maybe the recycling bin. The state of the waste item may also include alevel of deformation or damage to the waste item. For example, a brokenglass bottle may only be appropriate for the general trash bin, but afull intact glass bottle may be recycled. These are just a few examplesof a state of a waste item, and may include any other number of factorsthat may be determinative as to whether the waste item can be recycled,composted, etc. The status of the waste item, in some instances, may bedetermined based on some of the same or similar methods used todetermine the type of waste item (for example, computer vision, manualindication by the user, etc.). In some instances, the location-basedrules may also be relevant to the status of the item. For example,Municipality A may have a rule that a slightly torn box can be recycled,but Municipality B may have a rule that any damage to a box means it canno longer be recycled.

Block 308 of the method 300 may include presenting an indication of thefirst waste receptacle to the user. In some embodiments, once the typeof waste item is determined, an indication may be presented to the userof one or more types of waste receptacles in which the waste itempresented by the user may be deposited. In some instances, theindication may be provided through a display of the device. In someinstances, for example, if the device is a stationary device, the one ormore waste receptacles may actually be located proximate to the device.In such instances, an indication to the user may be provided through oneor more of the waste receptacles themselves. For example, an LED lighton the one or more waste receptacles may turn on to indicate that thewaste item may be deposited in any of those waste receptacles (this ismerely one example of a potential indication that a waste receptacle mayprovide, and should not be taken to be limiting. For example, the wastereceptacles may themselves include one or more displays that may presentinformation indicating to the user that they should either be used ornot be used to deposit the waste item.). In some cases, the wastereceptacles themselves may provide the indication even if the device ifa mobile device. For example, the mobile device may be able to determinethat one or more waste receptacles are proximate to the mobile device,and the mobile device may provide an indication to the one or more wastereceptacles to then provide an indication to the user which of the wastereceptacles may be used. In some cases, both a stationary device and amobile device may be used, and the mobile device may provide anindication to the stationary device to provide an indication to the userwhich waste receptacle(s) may be used. For example, this may be the casewhen the mobile device is used to capture the one or more images, video,and/or real-time video feed of the waste item, but the waste receptaclesare also proximate to a display screen that may be in communication withthe mobile device. The mobile device may send an indication to thedisplay screen proximate to the waste receptacles to provide anindication as to which waste receptacle may be used.

In some embodiments, the indication of the one or more waste receptaclesin which the waste item may be deposited may be provided in any numberof forms. As a first example, the indication may be in the form of atextual instruction including the name of the type of one or more wastereceptacles. As a second example, the indication may be in the form ofan image of the types of one or more waste receptacles. As a thirdexample, the indication may be in the form of a logo that is typicallyassociated with the type of waste receptacle (for example, the Mobiusloop recycling logo). Additionally, in some scenarios, the one or morewaste receptacles may not be located proximate to the device providingthe indication to the user. In these scenarios, the device may alsoindicate to the user one or more locations where they may find theappropriate one or more waste receptacles. For example, the device mayprovide a name of a location to the user, may provide a map (forexample, a layout of a building, a map of a city, or any other type ofmap) with an indication on the map of where the user can find the wastereceptacle, or may provide such an indication in any number of otherways. Furthermore, while various types of indications are describedabove, any number of these indications may be presented in combinationwith one another to the user. For example, the word “recycling bin” maybe presented along with a picture of a recycling bin.

The operations described and depicted in the illustrative process flowof FIG. 3 may be carried out or performed in any suitable order asdesired in various example embodiments of the disclosure. Additionally,in certain example embodiments, at least a portion of the operations maybe carried out in parallel. Furthermore, in certain example embodiments,less, more, or different operations than those depicted in FIG. 3 may beperformed.

Although specific embodiments of the disclosure have been described, oneof ordinary skill in the art will recognize that numerous othermodifications and alternative embodiments are within the scope of thedisclosure. For example, any of the functionality and/or processingcapabilities described with respect to a particular device or componentmay be performed by any other device or component. Further, whilevarious illustrative implementations and architectures have beendescribed in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure, one ofordinary skill in the art will appreciate that numerous othermodifications to the illustrative implementations and architecturesdescribed herein are also within the scope of this disclosure.

Certain aspects of the disclosure are described above with reference toblock and flow diagrams of systems, methods, apparatuses, and/orcomputer program products according to example embodiments. It will beunderstood that one or more blocks of the block diagrams and flowdiagrams, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and the flowdiagrams, respectively, may be implemented by execution ofcomputer-executable program instructions. Likewise, some blocks of theblock diagrams and flow diagrams may not necessarily need to beperformed in the order presented, or may not necessarily need to beperformed at all, according to some embodiments. Further, additionalcomponents and/or operations beyond those depicted in blocks of theblock and/or flow diagrams may be present in certain embodiments.

Accordingly, blocks of the block diagrams and flow diagrams supportcombinations of means for performing the specified functions,combinations of elements or steps for performing the specifiedfunctions, and program instruction means for performing the specifiedfunctions. It will also be understood that each block of the blockdiagrams and flow diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the blockdiagrams and flow diagrams, may be implemented by special-purpose,hardware-based computer systems that perform the specified functions,elements or steps, or combinations of special-purpose hardware andcomputer instructions.

Illustrative System Architecture

FIG. 4 illustrates an example system 400 for waste receptacledeterminations, in accordance with one or more example embodiments ofthe present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 4, the system 400 may include one or more devices,which may further include one or more mobile devices 404 (which mayinclude, for example, mobile phones, tablets, and/or any other numberand/or types of devices) and/or one or more stationary devices 410(which may include for example, wall-mounted devices, or other types ofstationary devices). The one or more mobile devices 404 may be the sameas mobile device 104 and/or any other mobile device described herein.Similarly, the one or more stationary devices 410 may be the same asstationary device 204 and/or any other stationary device describedherein. At least part of the system 400 may also be found within anenvironment 414. The environment 414 may be, for example, a physicallocation, such as a cafeteria or a conference room of a corporateoffice, to provide one non-limiting example (however, the environment414 may also include any other physical location). The environment 414may include also include one or more waste receptacles 406, such as afirst waste receptacle 407, a second waste receptacle 408, and/or athird waste receptacle 409 (as well as any other number of wastereceptacles). The waste receptacles may include one or more differenttypes of waste receptacles in which the user 402 may deposit a wasteitem. For example, the first waste receptacle 407 may be a recyclingbin, the second waste receptacle 408 may be a compost bin, and the thirdwaste receptacle 409 may be a general trash bin. However, these aremerely examples of types of waste receptacles, and other type of wastereceptacle, and/or number of waste receptacles, may similar be includedwithin the system 400.

In some embodiments, the one or more mobile devices 404 may beassociated with one or more users 402. The one or more mobile devices404 may include an application 426, which may include at least a wasteitem scan module 428. The waste item scan module 428 may be used toperform any of the operations described herein, such as receiving one ormore images, videos, and/or live video feeds of a waste item of the user402. The one or more mobile devices 404 may also include at least one ormore processor(s) 430, memory 432, one or more sensors 434, and a userinterface 435. The one or more sensors 434, for example, may includecameras, LIDAR sensors, accelerometers, gyroscopes, location sensors, orany other type of sensor. The one or more sensors 434 may be used tocapture data regarding a waste item. For example, the one or moresensors 434 may be used to capture one or more images, videos, and/orreal-time video feeds of a waste item. The user interface 435 may be auser interface within the application 426 of the mobile device 404 andmay allow the mobile device 404 to present information to the user 402.The one or more mobile devices 404 may also include any other elements,such as described with respect to the computing element 500 of FIG. 5.

In some embodiments, the one or more stationary devices 410 may not beassociated with the one or more users 402, but may rather be stationaryin a location within the environment 414. The one or more stationarydevices 410 may include similar elements to the one or more mobiledevices 404, such as an application 436, which may include at least awaste scan module 437. The one or more stationary devices 410 may alsoinclude at least one or more processor(s) 438, memory 439, one or moresensors 440, and a user interface 441. The one or more sensors 440, forexample, may include cameras, LIDAR sensors, accelerometers, gyroscopes,location sensors, or any other type of sensor. The one or more sensors440 may be used to capture data regarding a waste item. For example, theone or more sensors 440 may be used to capture one or more images,videos, and/or real-time video feeds of a waste item. The user interface441 may be a user interface within the application 436 of the stationarydevices 410 and may allow the stationary devices 410 to presentinformation to the user 402. The one or more stationary devices 410 mayalso include any other elements, such as described with respect to thecomputing element 500 of FIG. 5.

In some embodiments, the one or more waste receptacles 406 may alsoinclude similar elements as the one or more devices, such as anapplication 416, which may include at least a waste scan module 418.That is, any of the one or more mobile devices 404, one or morestationary devices 410, and/or the one or more waste receptacles 406 maybe used to perform some or all of the operations with respect to thewaste item identification. For example, any of the one or more mobiledevices 404, one or more stationary devices 410, and/or the one or morewaste receptacles 406 may be used to capture information about the wasteitem that may be used to determine the appropriate waste receptacle 406for the waste item to be deposited in. The one or more waste receptacles406 may also include at least one or more processor(s) 420, memory 422,one or more sensors 424, and/or a user interface 427. The one or moresensors 424, for example, may include cameras, LIDAR sensors,accelerometers, gyroscopes, location sensors, or any other type ofsensor. The one or more sensors 424 may be used to capture dataregarding a waste item. For example, the one or more sensors 424 may beused to capture one or more images, videos, and/or real-time video feedsof a waste item. The user interface 427 may be a user interface withinthe application 416 of the waste receptacles 406 and may allow the wastereceptacles 406 to present information to the user 402. The one or morewaste receptacles 406 may also include one or more output elements 421.The one or more output elements 421 may provide an indication to theuser 402 that the waste receptacle is an appropriate waste receptaclefor the waste item. For example, the one or more output elements 421 mayinclude an LED light on a waste receptacle as described herein. The oneor more output elements 421, however, may also include any other elementthat may provide such an indication to a user 402, such as a speakerthrough which an audio indication may be provided to the use 402. Theone or more waste receptacles 406 may also include any other elements,such as described with respect to the computing element 500 of FIG. 5.

In some embodiments, the one or more mobile devices 404, the one or morestationary devices 410, and/or one or more waste receptacles 406 may bein communication with a remote system 442 (for example, a remote cloudsystem). The remote system 442 may be, for example, a remote server thatmay be used to perform some or all of the operations described herein.The remote system 442 may include one or more processor(s) 444, memory445, and/or a database 446. The remote system 442 may also include oneor more modules, including at least a waste receptacle determinationmodule 447. The waste receptacle determination module 447 may be used toperform any of the operations described herein, such as determining anappropriate waste receptacle 406 in which a waste item may be depositedbased on one or more images, videos, and/or live video feeds of thewaste item captured by the one or more mobile devices 404, the one ormore stationary devices 410, and/or one or more waste receptacles 406.The database 446 may include any of the previously-captured images,videos, and/or real-time video feeds of waste items. For example, asdescribed herein, these previously-captured images, videos, and/orreal-time video feeds of waste items may be used by an artificialintelligence algorithm to determine a type of a waste item beingpresented by a user to any of the one or more mobile devices 404, one ormore stationary devices 410, and or one or more waste receptacles 406.The remote system 442 may also include any other elements, such asdescribed with respect to the computing element 500 of FIG. 5).Additionally, it should be noted that while the waste receptacledetermination module 447 is depicted as being located in the remotesystem 442, the waste receptacle determination module 447 may similarlybe included in any other component of the system 400, such as, forexample, the one or more mobile devices 404, the one or more stationarydevices 410, and or the one or more waste receptacles 406.

In some embodiments, the one or more mobile devices 404, the one or morestationary devices 410, one or more waste receptacles 406, the remotenetwork 442, and any other elements of the system 400 as describedherein may be configured to communicate via a communications network450. The communications network 450 may include, but not limited to, anyone of a combination of different types of suitable communicationsnetworks such as, for example, broadcasting networks, cable networks,public networks (e.g., the Internet), private networks, wirelessnetworks, cellular networks, or any other suitable private and/or publicnetworks. Further, the communications network 450 may have any suitablecommunication range associated therewith and may include, for example,global networks (e.g., the Internet), metropolitan area networks (MANs),wide area networks (WANs), local area networks (LANs), or personal areanetworks (PANs). In addition, communications network 416 may include anytype of medium over which network traffic may be carried including, butnot limited to, coaxial cable, twisted-pair wire, optical fiber, ahybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) medium, microwave terrestrial transceivers,radio frequency communication mediums, white space communicationmediums, ultra-high frequency communication mediums, satellitecommunication mediums, or any combination thereof.

Illustrative Computing Element

FIG. 5 illustrates an example computing element 500, in accordance withone or more embodiments of this disclosure. The computing element 500may be a device used to perform any of the processing with respect tothe flare artifact score determination or any other processing describedherein. The computing element 500 may include at least one processor 502that executes instructions that are stored in one or more memory devices(referred to as memory 504). The instructions can be, for instance,instructions for implementing functionality described as being carriedout by one or more modules and systems disclosed above or instructionsfor implementing one or more of the methods disclosed above. Theprocessor(s) 502 can be embodied in, for example, a CPU, multiple CPUs,a GPU, multiple GPUs, a TPU, multiple TPUs, a multi-core processor, acombination thereof, and the like. In some embodiments, the processor(s)502 can be arranged in a single processing device. In other embodiments,the processor(s) 502 can be distributed across two or more processingdevices (e.g., multiple CPUs; multiple GPUs; a combination thereof; orthe like). A processor can be implemented as a combination of processingcircuitry or computing processing units (such as CPUs, GPUs, or acombination of both). Therefore, for the sake of illustration, aprocessor can refer to a single-core processor; a single processor withsoftware multithread execution capability; a multi-core processor; amulti-core processor with software multithread execution capability; amulti-core processor with hardware multithread technology; a parallelprocessing (or computing) platform; and parallel computing platformswith distributed shared memory. Additionally, or as another example, aprocessor can refer to an integrated circuit (IC), an ASIC, a digitalsignal processor (DSP), a FPGA, a PLC, a complex programmable logicdevice (CPLD), a discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardwarecomponents, or any combination thereof designed or otherwise configured(e.g., manufactured) to perform the functions described herein.

The processor(s) 502 can access the memory 504 by means of acommunication architecture 506 (e.g., a system bus). The communicationarchitecture 506 may be suitable for the particular arrangement(localized or distributed) and type of the processor(s) 502. In someembodiments, the communication architecture 506 can include one or manybus architectures, such as a memory bus or a memory controller; aperipheral bus; an accelerated graphics port; a processor or local bus;a combination thereof; or the like. As an illustration, sucharchitectures can include an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, aMicro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, an Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, aVideo Electronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, an AcceleratedGraphics Port (AGP) bus, a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus,a PCI-Express bus, a Personal Computer Memory Card InternationalAssociation (PCMCIA) bus, a Universal Serial Bus (USB), and or the like.

Memory components or memory devices disclosed herein can be embodied ineither volatile memory or non-volatile memory or can include bothvolatile and non-volatile memory. In addition, the memory components ormemory devices can be removable or non-removable, and/or internal orexternal to a computing element or component. Examples of various typesof non-transitory storage media can include hard-disc drives, zipdrives, CD-ROMs, digital versatile discs (DVDs) or other opticalstorage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage orother magnetic storage devices, flash memory cards or other types ofmemory cards, cartridges, or any other non-transitory media suitable toretain the desired information and which can be accessed by a computingelement.

As an illustration, non-volatile memory can include read only memory(ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), electrically programmable ROM (EPROM),electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), or flash memory.Volatile memory can include random access memory (RAM), which acts asexternal cache memory. By way of illustration and not limitation, RAM isavailable in many forms such as synchronous RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM(DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM),enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct Rambus RAM(DRRAM). The disclosed memory devices or memories of the operational orcomputational environments described herein are intended to include oneor more of these and/or any other suitable types of memory.

In addition to storing executable instructions, the memory 504 also canretain data, such as any ledger 156 information, among other data.

Each computing element 500 also can include mass storage 508 that isaccessible by the processor(s) 502 by means of the communicationarchitecture 506. The mass storage 508 can include machine-accessibleinstructions (e.g., computer-readable instructions and/orcomputer-executable instructions). In some embodiments, themachine-accessible instructions may be encoded in the mass storage 508and can be arranged in components that can be built (e.g., linked andcompiled) and retained in computer-executable form in the mass storage508 or in one or more other machine-accessible non-transitory storagemedia included in the computing element 500. Such components can embody,or can constitute, one or many of the various modules disclosed herein.Such modules are illustrated as waste receptacle determination modules514.

Execution of the temperature waste receptacle determination modules 514,individually or in combination, by at least one of the processor(s) 502,can cause the computing element 500 to perform any of the operationsdescribed herein (for example, the operations described with respect toFIG. 1-4, as well as any other operations).

Each computing element 500 also can include one or more input/outputinterface devices 510 (referred to as I/O interface 510) that can permitor otherwise facilitate external devices to communicate with thecomputing element 500. For instance, the I/O interface 510 may be usedto receive and send data and/or instructions from and to an externalcomputing element. The computing element 500 also includes one or morenetwork interface devices 512 (referred to as network interface(s) 512)that can permit or otherwise facilitate functionally coupling thecomputing element 500 with one or more external devices. Functionallycoupling the computing element 500 to an external device can includeestablishing a wireline connection or a wireless connection between thecomputing element 500 and the external device. The network interfacedevices 512 can include one or many antennas and a communicationprocessing device that can permit wireless communication between avehicle and either another vehicle or an external device. The othervehicle can be, for example, one of the vehicles included in the network110 or an out-of-network vehicle. The external device can be, forexample, one of the mobile devices included in the network 110. Such acommunication processing device can process data according to definedprotocols of one or several radio technologies. The radio technologiescan include, for example, 3G, Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced,5G, IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.16, Bluetooth, ZigBee, near-fieldcommunication (NFC), and the like.

In some embodiments, the computing element 500 may be in communicationwith an imaging device 516 (for example, through the I/O interface 510of the computing element as shown in FIG. 5). The imaging device 516 maybe the same as any of the imaging devices described herein (for example,an imaging device for which a flare artifact score is determined basedon one or more images that the imaging device captures).

As used in this application, the terms “environment,” “system,” “unit,”“module,” “architecture,” “interface,” “component,” and the like referto a computer-related entity or an entity related to an operationalapparatus with one or more defined functionalities. The terms“environment,” “system,” “module,” “component,” “architecture,”“interface,” and “unit,” can be utilized interchangeably and can begenerically referred to functional elements. Such entities may be eitherhardware, a combination of hardware and software, software, or softwarein execution. As an example, a module can be embodied in a processrunning on a processor, a processor, an object, an executable portion ofsoftware, a thread of execution, a program, and/or a computing element.As another example, both a software application executing on a computingelement and the computing element can embody a module. As yet anotherexample, one or more modules may reside within a process and/or threadof execution. A module may be localized on one computing element ordistributed between two or more computing elements. As is disclosedherein, a module can execute from various computer-readablenon-transitory storage media having various data structures storedthereon. Modules can communicate via local and/or remote processes inaccordance, for example, with a signal (either analogic or digital)having one or more data packets (e.g., data from one componentinteracting with another component in a local system, distributedsystem, and/or across a network such as a wide area network with othersystems via the signal).

As yet another example, a module can be embodied in or can include anapparatus with a defined functionality provided by mechanical partsoperated by electric or electronic circuitry that is controlled by asoftware application or firmware application executed by a processor.Such a processor can be internal or external to the apparatus and canexecute at least part of the software or firmware application. Still inanother example, a module can be embodied in or can include an apparatusthat provides defined functionality through electronic componentswithout mechanical parts. The electronic components can include aprocessor to execute software or firmware that permits or otherwisefacilitates, at least in part, the functionality of the electroniccomponents.

In some embodiments, modules can communicate via local and/or remoteprocesses in accordance, for example, with a signal (either analog ordigital) having one or more data packets (e.g., data from one componentinteracting with another component in a local system, distributedsystem, and/or across a network such as a wide area network with othersystems via the signal). In addition, or in other embodiments, modulescan communicate or otherwise be coupled via thermal, mechanical,electrical, and/or electromechanical coupling mechanisms (such asconduits, connectors, combinations thereof, or the like). An interfacecan include input/output (I/O) components as well as associatedprocessors, applications, and/or other programming components.

Further, in the present specification and annexed drawings, terms suchas “store,” “storage,” “data store,” “data storage,” “memory,”“repository,” and substantially any other information storage componentrelevant to the operation and functionality of a component of thedisclosure, refer to memory components, entities embodied in one orseveral memory devices, or components forming a memory device. It isnoted that the memory components or memory devices described hereinembody or include non-transitory computer storage media that can bereadable or otherwise accessible by a computing element. Such media canbe implemented in any methods or technology for storage of information,such as machine-accessible instructions (e.g., computer-readableinstructions), information structures, program modules, or otherinformation objects.

Conditional language, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or“may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understoodwithin the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certainimplementations could include, while other implementations do notinclude, certain features, elements, and/or operations. Thus, suchconditional language generally is not intended to imply that features,elements, and/or operations are in any way required for one or moreimplementations or that one or more implementations necessarily includelogic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting, whetherthese features, elements, and/or operations are included or are to beperformed in any particular implementation.

What has been described herein in the present specification and annexeddrawings includes examples of systems, devices, techniques, and computerprogram products that, individually and in combination, permit theautomated provision of an update for a vehicle profile package. It is,of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination ofcomponents and/or methods for purposes of describing the variouselements of the disclosure, but it can be recognized that many furthercombinations and permutations of the disclosed elements are possible.Accordingly, it may be apparent that various modifications can be madeto the disclosure without departing from the scope or spirit thereof. Inaddition, or as an alternative, other embodiments of the disclosure maybe apparent from consideration of the specification and annexeddrawings, and practice of the disclosure as presented herein. It isintended that the examples put forth in the specification and annexeddrawings be considered, in all respects, as illustrative and notlimiting. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used ina generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: at least oneprocessor; and at least one memory storing computer-executableinstructions, that when executed by the at least one processor, causethe at least one processor to: receive, by a sensor of a device, imagedata associated with a first waste item; determine, based on the imagedata associated with the first waste item, a product characteristic ofthe first waste item; determine, based on the product characteristic ofthe first waste item, that the first waste item is associated with afirst waste receptacle of a plurality of waste receptacles; and presentan indication of the first waste receptacle to the user.
 2. The systemof claim 1, wherein determining the product characteristic of the firstwaste item further comprises: compare the image data associated with thefirst waste item to data associated with a second waste item that isassociated with the first waste receptacle.
 3. The system of claim 1,wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the at leastone processor to: receive, by the sensor of the device, second imagedata associated with a second waste item; determine, based on the secondimage data associated with the second waste item, a productcharacteristic of the second waste item; determine, based on the productcharacteristic of the second waste item, that the second waste item isassociated with a second waste receptacle; and present an indication ofthe second waste receptacle to the user.
 4. The system of claim 1,wherein determining that the first waste item is associated with a firstreceptacle is further based on a first location of the device.
 5. Thesystem of claim 4, wherein determining that the first waste item isassociated with a first waste receptacle is further based on one or morerules associated with the first location.
 6. The system of claim 1,wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the at leastone processor to: receive, by a sensor of the device, third image dataassociated with a third waste item; determine, based on the third imagedata associated with the third waste item, a product characteristic ofthe third waste item; determine that the device is located in a secondlocation; determine, based on the device being located in the secondlocation, one or more rules associated with the second location, whereinthe one or more rules associated with the second location are differentthan the one or more rules associated with the first location;determine, based on the third product characteristic and the one or morerules associated with the second location, that the first waste item isassociated with a first receptacle; and present an indication of thethird waste receptacle to the user.
 7. The system of claim 1, whereinthe computer-executable instructions further cause the at least oneprocessor to: determine that the first waste receptacle is locatedgreater than a threshold distance from the device; and provide, based onthe determination that the first waste receptacle is located greaterthan a threshold distance from the device, an indication of a locationof the first waste receptacle.
 8. The system of claim 1, whereindetermine that the first waste item is associated with a first wastereceptacle is further based on a list of available waste receptacles ina location of the device.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein thecomputer-executable instructions further cause the at least oneprocessor to: open, based on the determination that the first waste itemis associated with the first waste receptacle, the first wastereceptacle for the first waste item to be deposited in the first wastereceptacle.
 10. A method comprising: receiving, by a sensor of a device,data associated with a first waste item, the data associated with thefirst waste item including at least one of: one or more images of thefirst waste item, a video of the first waste item, or a real-time videofeed of the first waste item; determining, based on the data associatedwith the first waste item, a product characteristic of the first wasteitem; determining, based on the product characteristic of the firstwaste item, that the first waste item is associated with a first type ofwaste receptacle; and presenting an indication of the first type ofwaste receptacle to the user.
 11. The method of claim 10, whereindetermining the product characteristic of the first waste item furthercomprises: comparing the data associated with the first waste item todata associated with a previous waste item and an associated wastereceptacle of the previous waste item.
 12. The method of claim 10,further comprising: identify, based on the data associated with a firstwaste item, data associated with a second waste item, the dataassociated with the second waste item including at least one of: one ormore images of the second waste item, a video of the second waste item,or a real-time video second of the first waste item; determine, based onthe data associated with the second waste item, a product characteristicof the second waste item; determine, based on the product characteristicof the second waste item, that the second waste item is associated witha second type of waste receptacle; and present an indication of thesecond type of waste receptacle to the user.
 13. The method of claim 10,wherein determining that the first waste item is associated with a firsttype of waste receptacle is further based on the device being in a firstlocation.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein determining that the firstwaste item is associated with a first type of waste receptacle isfurther based on one or more rules associated with the first location.15. The method of claim 14, further comprising: receiving, by a sensorof the device, data associated with a third waste item, the dataassociated with the third waste item including at least one of: one ormore images of the third waste item, a video of the third waste item, ora real-time video feed of the third waste item; determining, based onthe data associated with the third waste item, a product characteristicof the third waste item; determining that the device is located in asecond location; determining, based on the device being located in thesecond location, one or more rules associated with the second location,wherein the one or more rules associated with the second location aredifferent than the one or more rules associated with the first location;determining, based on the third product characteristic and the one ormore rules associated with the second location, that the first wasteitem is associated with a first type of waste receptacle; and presentingan indication of the third type of waste receptacle to the user.
 16. Themethod of claim 10, further comprising: determining that the first typeof waste receptacle is located greater than a threshold distance fromthe device; and providing, based on the determination that the firsttype of waste receptacle is located greater than a threshold distancefrom the device, an indication of a location of the first type of wastereceptacle.
 17. The method of claim 10, wherein determine that the firstwaste item is associated with a first type of waste receptacle isfurther based on a list of available types of waste receptacles in alocation of the device.
 18. The method of claim 10, further comprising:opening, based on the determination that the first waste item isassociated with the first type of waste receptacle, the first type ofwaste receptacle for the first waste item to be deposited in the firsttype of waste receptacle, wherein the first type of waste receptacle isotherwise closed and inaccessible.
 19. A non-transitorycomputer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions whichwhen executed by one or more processors result in performing operationscomprising: receiving, by a sensor of a device, data associated with afirst waste item, the data associated with the first waste itemincluding at least one of: one or more images of the first waste item, avideo of the first waste item, or a real-time video feed of the firstwaste item; determining, based on the data associated with the firstwaste item, a product characteristic of the first waste item;determining, based on the product characteristic of the first wasteitem, that the first waste item is associated with a first type of wastereceptacle; and presenting an indication of the first type of wastereceptacle to the user.
 20. The non-transitory computer-readable mediumof claim 19, wherein determining the product characteristic of the firstwaste item further comprises: comparing the data associated with thefirst waste item to data associated with a previous waste item and anassociated waste receptacle of the previous waste item.